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Chinese business and government leaders convene in Cancun to discuss climate action in China

Chinese business and government leaders convene in Cancun to discuss climate action in China

Date

09 December 2010

CANCUN, 9 December 2010: On day 1 of the Climate Leaders Summit (Monday 6 December), The Climate Group hosted a high-level delegation of Chinese leaders from business, and municipal and provincial government who joined over 150 of their counterparts from around the world for a day of events focused on climate action in China.

The day opened with a breakfast roundtable discussing China’s 12th Five-Year Plan and the likely implications for the growth of China’s low-carbon economy. The breakfast was attended by esteemed guests including The National Development and Reform Commission’s Lihong Chen, Broad CEO Zhang Yue and senior representatives from Hewlett Packard, Johnson Controls, Nike, Philips and Munich Re.

Following the breakfast, The Climate Group’s Greater China Director, Changhua Wu, launched China’s Clean Revolution Report III: Low Carbon Development in Cities. The report explores the vital role of China’s local governments and businesses, and looks at the part cities will need to play in ensuring China’s low carbon targets are met during a period of intense urbanization.

During the afternoon session – Business and China’s Clean Revolution – panelists shared success stories of how insurance, energy efficiency, electronics and ICT companies are supporting low carbon growth in Chinese markets. Peter Hoeppe, Head of Geo Risk at Munich Re, cited the company’s US $3billion investment in renewables, and their work with Chinese insurers to protect against the premature ageing of PV cells – reducing the technology’s risk for investors.

Harry Verhaar, Senior Vice President of Sustainability at Philips Lighting, spoke about Philips’ support for The Climate Group’s 1000-Village Solar LED Initiative, supplying new solar-powered lights in Southern China. Mr Verhaar emphasized that new low carbon lighting technologies could improve the quality of life for thousands of Chinese citizens.

Jennifer Layke, from Johnson Controls’ Institute of Building Innovation, shared results from the company’s global Energy Efficiency Indicator Survey, which outlines building owners’ attitudes towards green building. The results showed that China’s building owners are more willing to consider and implement the latest low carbon technologies than anywhere else in the world.

Zaidong Zhang, President of Fengshang Real Estate Co., Ltd. and Lun Feng, Chairman, Beijing Vantone Real Estate Co., Ltd, agreed that green buildings are offering a strong value for investors while offering better comfort for residents. Other topics discussed, included the usefulness of green building certifications, such as US Green Building Council’s LEED standard.

There were numerous success stories outlined during the day, highlighting the fact that Chinese consumers and investors are already benefiting from low-carbon initiatives, backed by progressive companies that recognize that the barriers to progress are worth tackling.